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Sex offender sentenced to 4 months in jail

Local man and his now ex-girlfriend were charged after the sex crime involving 14-year-old girl.

Cary Ashby

Jun 12, 2014

A convicted sex offender will have to register his address every six months for the next 25 years.

Lawrence E. Hickman, 19, of 3764 U.S. 224, Lot 26, Greenwich, isn't allowed to live within 1,000 feet of a preschool, daycare center or school once he finishes a 120-day sentence at the Huron County Jail. He was fined $500 Wednesday as part of his three years of probation.

"I understand what I did was wrong. ... I don't plan on getting into trouble again," the defendant added.

In early May, Hickman pleaded guilty to unlawful sexual conduct with a minor. His conviction is for having sex with a 14-year-old girl he brought to his residence after a Dec. 21 party. As part of a plea deal, prosecutors dismissed one count of tampering with evidence.

Hickman was arrested Dec. 21 at a Milan factory, where he worked at the time. He told the judge he lost his job, vehicle and friends as a result of the sex crime. Conway ruled Hickman, who served 11 days in jail, could serve the remainder of his four-month jail term on the work release program if his family finds a job for him.

Also arrested Dec. 21 was Hickman's now ex-girlfriend, a 17-year-old Greenwich girl. Hickman isn't allowed to have any contact with the victim or his co-defendant during probation.

The girl was charged with complicity to unlawful sexual conduct with a minor, complicity to tampering with evidence, obstructing official business and underage consumption.

As part of her probation through Huron County Juvenile Court, the girl must complete 50 hours of volunteer service and serve three days in detention. The defendant is prohibited from having any association with anyone under the age of 18 without adult supervision and can't access social media. Court administrator Chris Mushett has said the girl can't access the Internet without adult supervision, isn't allowed to view pornography, is prohibited from consuming alcohol and must undergo and successfully complete treatment and counseling for sex offenders, mental health and substance abuse.

The Huron County Sheriff's Office started its investigation after the Ashland County Sheriff's Office received a 9-1-1 call at 3:30 a.m. Dec. 21 from a female Huron County resident. Huron County Assistant Prosecutor Dina Shenker said the victim and Hickman's accomplice suffered significant psychological harm.

"There was a lot of stupidity going on. The defendant was the only adult present and took advantage of the underage girls," Shenker added. "(The victim) had to go through counseling."

Local deputies, while using search warrants, said they found "signs of underage drinking and drug abuse" and recovered "a significant amount of disturbing evidence at the scene" that linked Hickman to the sex crime. Agents with the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation processed the scene.

Defense attorney John Allton said Hickman's family has been supportive of him throughout the case, although they were surprised Hickman "spun out of control" after he graduated from high school.

"He has not blamed anyone else. He has taken responsibility for his own misconduct," Allton also told the judge.

Hickman will be supervised at a high level during probation. Conway said he typically would sentence similar defendants to prison, but told Hickman he was giving him a chance on community control sanctions since the circumstances aren't likely to re-occur and the defendant has a brief criminal record as an adult. If he violates his probation, he faces 18 months in prison.

Comments

CAST THE FIRST STONE

Thu, 06/12/2014 - 10:01pm

4 months no way...he will be totally new by then...NOT..STUPID

truckin

Fri, 06/13/2014 - 7:06am

For crying out loud.. The "victim" wasn't a child!
Everyone claims emotional distress!
How many 14 year old's lost there virginity (whether to a guy 1 yr over the limit age or same age) and turned out just fine?
I personally say way too long.

I am not ashamed, i too was a horny little man back in the day..some say still am...but still the same.
I was arrested back in the 80's once when my girlfriend 14 (freshman) i (senior) by her mom, cuz once she figured out i was off to the Marines and knew what we we're doing, wanted to protect her lil' girl.
Then after a few weeks and story settled, few days in holding, all charges were dropped!
....The parents, police and courts were still rational enough back then to understand KIDS are KIDS and didn't want to ruin our lives.
My how times and views have changed??
She has done great with her life, married, good hard working husband as well as her successful, children great. as i have done the same..
.........
But then again we HAD to make it in life.. there wasn't all this sympathy Boo Hoo excuses to spend years in therapy and government didn't have all these bogus tax funded organizations, in partners with courts which needed an excuse to exist and take more of other people's money (via taxes) in which to grow the government even LARGER..
....all and on the back of 1 guy who at a mere 1 yr. out of school and into the adult life, thought WOW that was a cool party last nite.
Simply amazing..

CAST THE FIRST STONE

Fri, 06/13/2014 - 7:27am

thats between you 2 perverts. Just because you did the same thing you are trying to say its ok. 14 did you misread that. please stay away from children or turn yourself in

truckin

Fri, 06/13/2014 - 7:40am

Not saying that it's ok.. just everything does not make people BAD

TheGravyWhisperer

Fri, 06/13/2014 - 9:06am

...14 and 19? ...cripe, in my day, there was a major music culture that capitalized on that teen theme - the 1910 fruitgum co., tommy james, tommy rowe, and dozens of others
...when I was in the service (at 17) the hall phone was never observed without some young soldier spending half his pay calling his girl back home
...that was, and obviously still is, teens calling teens
...many of those teenage guys married those gals, had kids and stayed married - and sadly, never realized they were sexual predators...

truckin

Fri, 06/13/2014 - 9:54am

I believe even Joan Jett had a song "i love rock n roll"
..where she sang about a guy "standing over by the record machine, had to be about 17 and took him home... where we can be alone"....

do i hear??? cougar corruption..
because that turned to be every guys fantasy...

TheGravyWhisperer

Fri, 06/13/2014 - 10:42am

...I hear ya, truckin ...why can't some of these commentors see that emerging sexuality doesn't unfold the same way for everybody
...some teens become 'fruitful' well before others and more eagerly pursue their urges
...parents, society, and the teens as well, should be obligated to approach this responsibly; too often they don't - but to call it predation? ...please

Tippythehippy

Sat, 06/14/2014 - 8:53am

I dont think 14 and 18 is a big deal. I dated 18 year olds when I was an 8th grader/freshman, they were seniors in HS. I never had sex with them tho, I had a good head on my shoulders back then and the fear of GOD put into me by my parents. these "kids" know what they are doing and know how to get away with it by playing the victim. I dont think these TEENS lives should be ruined over something like this. It wasnt gross imposition, it wasnt forced sex....It was a bunch of dumb teenagers who decided it would be fun to have a three way until reality hit and the parents got mad.

jenni2sweet

Fri, 06/13/2014 - 6:42am

Not defending this creep...no way! But we need to teach our young women how to keep themselves out of situations that make them vulnerable to creeps like this! Alcohol, drugs and strangers don't mix!!! Please ladies keep yourselves safe.

WATCHED_1s

Fri, 06/13/2014 - 8:57am

Or go old school and put chastity belts on the girls til they are 18 and out of the house lmao. Let's be real though. This guy should not be messing with girls this young (and deserves what he gets) but at the same time this was a willing sexual act. This girl should NOT be spreading her legs at this age or be at a party. Where are the parents on this one? Just askin

Speak_The_Truth

Fri, 06/13/2014 - 12:22pm

ANYONE condoning sex with a 14 year old IS PLAIN SICK IN THE HEAD!!!!! He should have got 20 years!

Korrupttown88

Fri, 06/13/2014 - 1:16pm

14 year olds have sex these days. Get over it. He does not deserve 20 years that's just rediculous. She had to be a little tramp having a threesome with him and his girlfriend. Yes 14 year olds do things like that. This is 2014. Again... Get over it.

Windy

Fri, 06/13/2014 - 2:04pm

Where were the parents? Both girls are minors.

Speak_The_Truth

Sat, 06/14/2014 - 12:04am

exactly i agree parents should watch there daughter better and yes he desereves 20 years i have no use for sex offeder pedophiles

truckin

Sat, 06/14/2014 - 5:17am

You act like he was in the bushes, luring some child with a bag of candy.

He was a guy at a party with his girlfriend who also was just 1 yr. under age (which seems not to be a problem).
That met this other chick ...at the party remember...who ALL came up with the idea, "let's play"...

Now remember this is a 19 yr old who be legal/public standards..
can not yet even purchase beer
and still stay on daddy's health care.
etc. etc..
So by me and many others, all were underage... at a party...getting there groove on..
THE END.

Korrupttown88

Sat, 06/14/2014 - 4:26am

A pedophile is someone who is attracted to children. I doubt he is a pedophile. Under ohio law she is considered a youth not a child. You sound rediculous. You must think every 14 year old girl plays with barby dolls still lol. Get over it. She wanted to be a tramp.

whats up hometown

Sat, 06/14/2014 - 8:20am

I know someone that was there that nite and was told the 14 yr old victim was not honest about her age and was nothing short of begging the two of them to take her with them. Is what I heard not saying I know it's the truth but you ask me the 14 yr old girls parents should know where there little girl is if it was my daughter she sure as he$$ would not have enough freedom for something like this to happen just saying

Tippythehippy

Sat, 06/14/2014 - 8:59am

Amen to that! I would not doubt for a second she lied about her age. Most 14 year old girls look like they are 20!

sandijunebug

Sat, 06/14/2014 - 10:04am

Get rid of this article, please and his picture.

swiss family

Sat, 06/14/2014 - 7:49pm

OK first off I want to say that originally I really thought that Truckin and I would be friends.. he and I shared a lot of the same ideas, but here is where we majorly disagree

I would have to guess that "truckin" would be from a working class family, Nothing wrong with that at all, but if he is actually from a "truckin" family, I think that explains a lot especially here.. anyone who has ever been on any road trip, and has gone into any roadside rest plaza has seen an over abundance of "confederate flags, and "the south will rise again" signs, and Jack Daniels shot glasses etc.there is nothing at all wrong with any of these.. but I will say that when you see anyone who proudly displays the confederate flag anywhere on their property or in any of their vehicle , you know first hand that there is a problem..they will probably have a bumper sticker bragging about someone prying their fingers off their gun and their cold dead fingers, which they have every right to do so, wheras, the other gun carriers do not have to advertise how bad a$$ they want everyone to know that they are...The other difference is that the non Confederate flag owner, takes the time to search all over to find suitable clothing that is modest and covers their daughters body enough to keep them decent and protected as to not display the "goods " for all the boys to see as she walks by.. but the Confederate flag parent takes their daughter and lets her wear whatever it is that Miley Cyrus has cropped down to super mini shorts, so she an display her amazing talent of "twerking
and then stands up to reveal this cut off midriff shirt that barely covers her boobs or belly button and the poor daughter is barely even in her teens..That is what sells, and shame on the retailers , because that is what hits you in the face as you go into the stores, but the parents who are their kids friends will never get too far into the store because their cart will be full of Mileys CRAP.. where the good parent, the one that knows that saying "NO" might make their daughter mad for the moment, but will be thankful when they are not dropping out of school to raise a baby at 16, knows tat they are the GOOD parent..

I know that there are always exceptions to every rule,.. but I am a firm believer that every one has a job, and a teenagers job is to push their parents until they find the line where the parent puts their foot down.. and it is the parents job to show them and make them understand that this IS the line.. and do NOT dare cross it.. and remarkably they have taken run away kids and asked them what went wrong, and they have cried and said that their parents did not care enough about them to make them follow rules...do not be their friend they do not want that... be their parent